Half of all women in the UK are thought to get at least one UTI during their life.

What causes UTIs in women

UTIs are a key reason we're often told to wipe from front to back after using the toilet. That's because the urethra (the tube that transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) is located just in front of the anus. Bacteria from the large intestine, such as E. coli, are in the perfect position to escape from the anus and invade the urethra. From there, they can travel up to the bladder, and if the infection isn't treated, continue on to infect the kidneys. Infection of the bladder is the commonest cause of cystitis - inflammation of the bladder. Women may be especially prone to UTIs because they have a shorter urethra, which allow bacteria quick access to the bladder. Having sex can introduce bacteria into the urinary tract, too.

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